Eutelsat, MediaTek, and Airbus Defence and Space have conducted the world’s first successful trial of 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology over the Eutelsat OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The tests pave the way for deployment of the 5G NTN standard, which will result in future satellite and terrestrial interoperability within a large ecosystem, lowering the cost of access and enabling the use of satellite broadband for 5G devices around the world.

The trial used Eutelsat OneWeb satellites, with the MediaTek NR NTN test chipset, and NR NTN test gNB provided by ITRI, implementing the 3GPP Release 17 specifications. Sharp, Rhode & Schwarz provided the antenna array and test equipment and the LEO satellites, built by Airbus, carry transponders, with Ku-band service links, Ka-band feeder links, and adopt the “Earth-moving beams” concept. During the trial, the 5G user terminal successfully connected to the 5G core via the satellite link and exchanged traffic.

With the integration of 5G standards shared and accepted by the entire mobile industry, all compatible satellite constellations will naturally and seamlessly complement terrestrial networks, enabling truly ubiquitous connectivity with economies of scale, and opening up new markets for smartphones, the automotive industry, and the Internet-of-Things.

Arlen Kassighian, Chief Engineering Officer at Eutelsat Group, said: “These trials show the commitment of Eutelsat Group in developing and adopting new technologies, in order to provide the best possible services to our customers, in collaboration with trusted partners. 5G NTN will be a key feature of the IRIS2 constellation, and Eutelsat is at the forefront of this innovation and active member of the ecosystem. We are proud to be the first satellite operator to demonstrate the 5G air interface working on a commercial fleet in Ku-band and paving the way for new applications in future constellations.”

“As a global leader in terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity, we continue in our mission to improve lives by enabling innovative technology that connects the world around us, even in areas with little to no cellular coverage,” said Mingxi Fan, Head of Wireless System and ASIC Engineering at MediaTek. “By making real-world connections with LEO satellites in orbit, we are now another step closer to bring the next generation of 3GPP-based NR-NTN satellite wideband connectivity for commercial use.”

Elodie Viau, Head of Space Systems Engineering at Airbus added: “Demonstrating successful 5G NTN satellite connectivity using the Airbus-built OneWeb satellites not only proves the flexibility and innovative design of the satellites but opens the prospect of true global satellite broadband connectivity for 5G devices. As a pioneer in space connectivity, we are actively contributing to the development of 5G NTN, and we look forward to the next stage of further integrating satellites in our everyday lives.”

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